On February 24, the Lantern Festival celebrations were held in Madrid, Spain, Antwerp, Belgium, The Hague in the Netherlands, etc., and Chinese traditional culture went overseas to send a New Year folk feast to many countries, which was welcomed by the local people.
On February 24, the Chinese Lantern Festival Temple Fair, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Spain, the Region of Madrid** and the City of Madrid**, was held in Plaza de España in the center of Madrid, with thousands of citizens and tourists participating. On that day, Plaza de España was surrounded by a variety of stalls and stages, from handicrafts to gourmet snacks, from calligraphy demonstrations to martial arts exercises, and the people present enjoyed the authentic taste of China while enjoying wonderful cultural performances. The Mayor of Madrid said on the scene that the City of Madrid** will continue to support such activities to promote exchange and understanding between different cultures.
On the day of the Lantern Festival, the Chinese Embassy in Belgium and the Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations in Belgium held a garden and temple fair in Antwerp, Belgium. More than 30 temple fair booths displayed the essence of traditional Chinese culture such as Chinese food, martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, calligraphy, Tai Chi, and Hanfu. Nearly 2,000 local residents, overseas Chinese and international students participated in the event, which was crowded and the atmosphere was festive. The deputy mayor of Antwerp, Mr. Lutters, said that the Spring Festival is popular and loved by the people of Antwerp, and has increasingly become one of the local customs. The "Chinese New Year Garden and Temple Fair" provides an opportunity for Belgians to experience Chinese culture and enhance mutual understanding.
On the same day, the Dutch community jointly organized an event at the Hague City Hall to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte delivered a speech and wished everyone a wonderful holiday in a happy celebration. The guests present took the stage together to highlight the dragon and lion dance, implying that the dragon and tiger leap and auspicious in the new year. More than 3,000 people, including some foreign envoys in the Netherlands and friends from all walks of life in the Netherlands, enjoyed the wonderful performances brought by the artists of the Chinese Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
Mayor of The Hague, Van Zaenen: The 24th is a very special day, a very special moment. I wish all the Chinese in The Netherlands all the best and happy holidays in The Hague, Netherlands. At the same time, I am honored to extend my greetings to all Chinese people.